Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin
Publication date: August 16th, 2007
Number of pages: 332
Format: Paperback
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St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

2 girls. One bond. A whole lot of trouble.

This is the story of Rose, who is half human and half Mori (vampire). She and her best friend, Lissa, who happens to be a Moroi, which in normal talk is a living vampire, meaning they can die and have specific abilities, are on the run and have been for the past two years.
That soon stops and they are discovered by a guardian, a hot one nonetheless who then takes them back to the academy where they'll have to stay until the end of their education.

The girls, soon find themselves in some different situations of their own. Romantic and action-wise. There was a reason why they were on the run, and that very reason soon comes back to bite them to show that while you can run, you can't hide, and everything always comes out sooner or later.
Rose's life soon becomes complicated when she finds herself attracted to someone she should not be interested in for many reasons, but sometimes the heart does not listen to what your brain is telling you.

I really liked Rose as a protagonist. She is strong, independent. She can also get scared and vulnerable just like anyone. She doesn't want to rely on anyone, as she feels she has to do everything herself, I think it's because she hasn't had the usual upbringing, and didn't have that normal family type childhood it's probably hard for her to trust many people.

Lissa on the other hand. She has changed over the last few years with the death of her family. That would change anyone, it has made her more fearful and scared of things.
Until someone comes into her life that makes her feel alive again, to show her that it's okay to live and not focus on what could be, or what was.

A great first installment to a great series.

Verdict: 5/5